CONTENTS CONTENTS

9 Perform the Analysis 37

9.1 Submit a ABAQUS Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
9.2 Accessing the ABAQUS Results from PATRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
PATRAN Beginner’s Guide 9.3 Post Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9.4 Changing Display Parameters . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
42
44
9.5 Hard Copy of Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
9.6 Stress Fringe Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Arul M Britto
9.7 Using Graph (XY) Plot to plot Stress variation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
9.8 To Quit from PATRAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
April 15, 2005
10 Files 48

11 Troubleshooting 48
Contents
12 Frequently Asked Questions 49
1 Introduction 3

2 How to Start a PATRAN Session 3

2.1 Creating a New Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.2 Opening New Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.3 Leaving a PATRAN Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.4 Resuming a Previous Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3 Steps Involved in an analysis 9

3.1 Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4 Create Geometry 10
4.1 Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
4.1.1 Create Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.1.2 Create Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
4.2 Checking and Correcting Mistakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2.1 Check the Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2.2 Check the Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.2.3 Deleting Points and Curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
4.3 Error and Warning Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.4 Entity Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.5 Checking the Surface Normal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5 Loads and Boundary Conditions 23

5.1 Define the Load variation function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.2 Loads and Boundary Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3 Load Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

6 Define Element Properties 27

6.1 Define Material Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.2 Element Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

7 Finite Element Mesh 31

7.1 Create Mesh Seeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
7.2 Create the Mesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
7.3 Unpost the Geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
7.4 Equivalence and Optimize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

8 Check Load/BCs 35
8.1 Loads/BCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
8.2 Create a Load Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

1 2
2 HOW TO START A PATRAN SESSION 2 HOW TO START A PATRAN SESSION

1 Introduction
PATRAN is a pre and post processing package for the finite element program ABAQUS. In addition
it has the capability of finite element analysis. This manual has been prepared for users who want to
use ABAQUS for finite element analysis. It also describes how once the ABAQUS analysis is run one
could carry out some post processing.
This manual tells the user how to run PATRAN in the Teaching system. It also has an example prob-
lem on how to set up the data for an ABAQUS analysis using PATRAN. It explains how a ABAQUS Refresh graphics Show Hide
Undo Front
job can be submitted from within PATRAN and after the successful completion of the job how to use Reset graphics Labels Labels View
the post processing facilities. Heartbeat
Interrupt

2 How to Start a PATRAN Session Figure 1: Main Form

Find a suitable terminal for running PATRAN. These are the X-terminals in the main area of the DPO,
the PC-based X-terminals at the East end of the DPO, and the PC-based X-terminals in the EIET Lab 4. Type patran (Note : must be in lower case)
(Inglis building).
Warning : Do not use the start or fvwm window manager or any of its derivatives
1. Log in using your user ID and password. (fvwm2). In the past some problems have been encountered while running PATRAN with
fvwm.
2. Run a window manager (example : twm& ). This is recommended. It is useful in the sense that
The MSC/PATRAN Main form (Figure 1, also see Appendix A, page 3) should appear
the PATRAN windows can be moved around and scaled. Do not run start, fvwm or fvwm2.
across the top of the screen.
3. Create a subdirectory and move to it. Warning At the top of the main form are
Type mkdir patran (you need to do this only once.) 1. the pull-down menus, the on-line help, system icon buttons and the heartbeat.
Type cd patran (you need to do this for each session.) Below that are
It is a good idea to re-start PATRAN in the directory in which the database resides. Even though
it is possible to start PATRAN in any directory and then change to the directory in which the 2. the application radio buttons
database is, it is not recommended. The reason is any new files created by PATRAN (example 3. the toolbar icons
session files) will be placed in the directory from which PATRAN was started.
If you do not know which is your current directory then type pwd. This will list the name of the 4. the history window area
current working directory.
5. the text command line
Some useful unix commands :
in that order (See Figure A1, in Appendix A).
ls -l - will list all the files in the current directory.
The following message should appear in the history window :
cd - to return to your HOME directory. MSC.PATRAN 2004 r2 has obtained 1 concurrent license(s) from FLEXlm ....
rm file-name - to delete a file. Replace file-name with name of file to be deleted. Example Then all is well. The MSC/PATRAN status indicator is displayed between the “interrupt” and

: rm bracket.dat “undo” icons. This is the “ heartbeat”.

Here the subdirectory is called patran. All the PATRAN related files will be placed in this di-
rectory. When you start a session of PATRAN ensure that there is enough unused disk space
available within your quota to complete the current exercise. Contact the Computer Operators if
you require the quota to be increased.
Alternatively you can work in the /tmp directory. However files created in the /tmp directory
are deleted automatically after 48 hours. Therefore if you require these files please copy them to
your home directory within that time. First check whether there is enough free disk space. If the
free disk space is less than 10 Mbytes do not use the /tmp directory.
Type bdf /tmp
Check the amount available under the heading avail. This will be in KBytes.
Type cd /tmp
Type mkdir userid . Here substitute your user-id for userid .


1. Green means ready and waiting.
2. Blue means busy, but can be interrupted.
3. Red means busy but not interruptible. However if you find that PATRAN is taking a long time
to carry out routine tasks try clicking the Middle Mouse button in the viewport area.
However if you get a message saying that PATRAN could not get a licence then try typing patran
again. If you still get the same message please contact the Computer Operators (operators@eng.cam.ac.uk)
and they should be able to sort out the problem.
If the licence was obtained successfully then wait for the heartbeat to turn Green. Only the ‘File’
command along the top row will appear in black. At this point that is the only command that can be
selected. The rest of the menus are greyed out.
In the rest of this document the actions to be taken by the user for completing the exercise is denoted

by the symbol .

Type cd userid to move to this directory.

Before starting the exercise

If you start PATRAN from here then all the files created will be placed in this directory.

3 4
2 HOW TO START A PATRAN SESSION 2 HOW TO START A PATRAN SESSION 2.1 Creating a New Database

File Remember, this is the top menu picked.

1 File should be the only menu selection
New ... which is shown in black. This is the only
option that can be selected at this stage.
2
3 Figure 3: New database
4
5
Click on ‘Entering and Retrieving Data’ in the contents page


6
This will list (a) Forms, Widgets and Buttons (6 pages) (b) Selecting Entities (6 pages).
These sections explain how to fill in the various forms. For the present just browse through these
pages. At this stage it is not essential reading for completing the exercise given in this handout.
However these are for future reference to be read later for becoming proficient with PATRAN.
The search facility is very useful. Also useful is the context-sensitive help available. When you


need more explanation on any form with a given setting leave the cursor on the form and then
7 press the F1 key. After a short pause this should display the relevant information from the on-line
help manual in a separate window. Once you have read the information close the help page.
Choose File / Quit to close the help page.


Figure 2: on-line Help Document
This way one should avoid any problem with continued use the F1 key.

Click on Help from the top menu and choose ‘Contents and Index...’.


2.1 Creating a New Database

This would list the following headers.
Place the cursor on File and click the left mouse button.


– Introduction to MSC.Patran
Unless otherwise stated in the rest of this document it will be assumed that the left mouse button
– Using MSC.Patran
is used for selecting menu options and items. The right mouse button is used for deselecting items; i.e.
– Interfaces if you make a mistake in selecting an item.
– Modules
Choose from the menu the option New... (see Figure 3).


– PCL
This will bring up a form which is shown in Figure 4. In this handout form in general means a
The selections to be made are indicated by numbered arrows in Figure 2, Dialogue box.
Click on the “(Closed) Book” symbol or on the label “Using MSC.Patran”. This will open up and


display the subheadings. Then click on “MSC.Patran Workspace”. 2.2 Opening New Database
Choose ‘Modelling Window’ from this menu (2 pages). This shows the Main form and the Click on the label marked ‘Change Template ...’.




Graphics viewport. Part of the Main form is shown in Figure 1. This will open a new form (Figure 5).
Choose ‘Menu Bar’ and select ‘Menu Bar Keywords’. The items in the menu bar controls the To use ABAQUS then click on ‘abaqus.db’ from the list of available template files to select it.



parameters of various system tasks. This page explains the keywords in the menu bar.
Click on the OK button.


Below the Menu Bar is the Applications Bar. Below that is the Tool Bar. First we will consider the
Tool bar. This will close that form.

Click on ‘Tool Bar’ and this should display the various palettes that make up the tool bar. The Click on the box marked ‘New Database Name’ and type bracket This is the name chosen for the




most frequently used icons are included in the Tool bar. current example.
Figure 2 shows the contents page as it appears at this stage. The following messages should appear in the History window:
Next click on the ’Applications bar’. 1. Copying /export/../patran2004r2/abaqus.db to bracket.db.


The essential work in using PATRAN is done by filling in the various forms in the ’Applications
2. Template Copy complete.
bar’.
3. Database version 3.3 created by Version 2004 r2 successfully opened.

5 6
2 HOW TO START A PATRAN SESSION 2.2 Opening New Database 2 HOW TO START A PATRAN SESSION 2.3 Leaving a PATRAN Session

New Model Preference

New Database
Model Preference for :
Template Database Name bracket.db
/export/../patran2004r2/template.db Tolerance
based on Model
Change Template ... Click on this Default This is the largest dimension
Approximate Maximum
of the example problem being
Modify Preferences ... Model Dimension :
considered.
Filter 10.0 Change this to 100.
/amd_tmp/needle−16/usersn/userid/patran/*.db
Analysis Code
Delete or Delete key
Directories Database List ABAQUS Use the char to delete
characters
.........................................../patran/. Analysis Type :
.........................................../patran/.. Structural
This should display ABAQUS

New Database Name

Type OK Reset
bracket bracket
Figure 6: Model Preference
OK Filter Cancel
4. Creating journal file bracket.db.jou at date time .

Figure 4: New database
Note that “.db” is automatically appended to the name. This denotes “database”. An empty view-
port should appear with a black background. The axes will be displayed. The cross hair symbol
represents the origin. The name of the database is displayed at the top of the viewport.
Appendix A contains a brief review of the notations used in PATRAN. It also explains the purpose
Database Template of the five icons (repaint, window layering, cleanup, abort and undo) displayed at the top right hand
corner.
Filter When a new database is opened, the following form appears (see Figure 6).

/export/../patran2004r2/*.db Click on the box marked ‘Model Dimension’ and change the 10 to 100.


For the current example problem this is the largest dimension. The Tolerance parameter which
Directories Database Template List is used later is calculated based on this value. Therefore it is important to get this right approx-
imately. Getting this wrong can create a few problems later. The tolerance is taken as 0.0005 of
.........................................../patran/. abaqus.db Click on this for the largest dimension, so it will 0.05 for the current example. More on tolerance later.
.........................................../patran/.. base.db ABAQUS analysis.
Click on the OK button. This will close that form.


template.db
In general when entering/editing data in boxes in a form you need to click on the box first to
indicate to the program that you wish to do so. In the rest of this document when reference is made to
Template Name entering data in a box it will be assumed that you have to click on that box first even though this may
Then this name not be explicitly stated. Where there are exceptions to this rule it will be pointed out.
The next step is to create the geometry.
should appear in
the box below :
OK Filter Cancel
2.3 Leaving a PATRAN Session
You can quit the current session at any time you wish. Make sure that the heartbeat is Green.
Figure 5: Change template
Then Click on the Quit button.


7 8
3 STEPS INVOLVED IN AN ANALYSIS 2.4 Resuming a Previous Session 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 3.1 Units

All the information input and actions taken are stored in the PATRAN database so there is no
need to save before quitting.
However if for some reason you want to save a copy of the database (for example to use it as a
template) then
Click on the File button Choose the Save a copy... option. Set the toggle to save a copy of the

But one does not have to strictly adhere to this sequence. PATRAN provides flexibility. The user
can choose the sequence best suited for the problem in hand.
For example it is better to assign the material properties to the geometry rather than the finite
element mesh. This way if you decide to change the mesh you don’t have to re-assign the material
properties.
Similarly where necessary the specification of the boundary conditions or loading can be delayed

journal file. Enter an appropriate name for the saved database.
Always save a copy of the journal file : *.db.jou (here * represents the name of the database).
Then wait for the Green light and choose the Quit option.

until after the mesh has been generated. In general boundary conditions and loading are specified in
the geometry.
The finite element mesh can be created immediately after the geometry has been created. But there
are good reasons to delay it.

Another situation where you may want to save a copy of the databse is if you want to save the
results of the current analysis before making some changes (for example using a different element
type) and re-running the analysis and comparing the two sets of results. Then it will be a good idea to
work on a copy of the original database.
However you have to have enough spare disk space (quota) to be able to save a second copy of the
database.
First time users can skip the next section (section 2.3). It explains how to open an existing database
to continue a previous session.
2.4 Resuming a Previous PATRAN Session
Change to the directory where the the PATRAN database are present by typing ‘cd patran’.

3.1 Units
There is no default set of units assumed with ABAQUS. It is the user’s responsibilty to choose an
appropriate set of units and enter all values using the correct units. For example the x co-ordinate of a
point is 20 mm. If you are using for Length the value to be entered is 0.02. However if you are using
for Length then you need to enter 20. The same applies to all numbers being entered which have
units associated with it.
From the PATRAN program’s point of view units doesn’t mean anything (all numerical entries are
just numbers). It means that all numerical input are treated as just numbers by PATRAN. For structural
problem the user should decide on the units for Length and Force. For time dependent problems the
unit for Time also has to be chosen. Example :
Length - (metres) Force - (Newtons) Time - (seconds)




Then all dependent parameters must be specified in a consistent set of units. For example stiffness
Choose Open... instead of New... from the File menu.


should be specified in and density in .





Select the appropriate db file from the list of ‘available files’, by clicking on it. For the example given here the SI(mm) units are used.


That file name should appear in the box marked ‘Existing Database Name’.
Quantity SI SI(mm) SI US Unit(ft) US Unit(inch)
Then click on the ‘OK’ button to choose that file. Length

Force





It is recommended that you use separate databases for each new analysis. Mass ( )




If you want to look at a different PATRAN databsse then use File / Close to close the current Time s s s s s
database and then open the other database. Stress (N/ ) (N/ ) / ( / )






Energy ( J)









Density lbf


3 Steps Involved in an analysis

Always choose your set of units before starting to create the geometry ie entering the
The following is the order adopted for the various steps required for the current example.
point co-ordinates. Because this affects the stiffness parameters, loading etc. This will
1. Decide on what units to use avoid unnecessary scaling of the results later.

2. Create Geometry
Note 4 Create Geometry
3. Specify Boundary Conditions and Loading on the Geometry
The model is a simple L bracket which is fixed along one side (vertical) in both x and
4. Specify Material properties
y directions. Part of the other side (horizontal) is subjected to a triangular distribution
5. Assign material properties to geometry which varies from 100 to 0 at the tip (Figure 7). This is an elastic analysis and





contains a single load step. The analysis consists of a single increment. The SI(mm) units have been
6. Create finite element mesh chosen for the present example.
7. Create a loadcase The bracket is 100 mm long along its side and is 20 mm thick and is 75 mm wide. This is to be
anlysed as a Plane Stress problem.
8. Carry out the analysis Points, Curves and Surfaces and Solids (for 3D) form the Geometric Entity. The Nodes and Ele-
ments of the FE mesh form the FE Entities.
9. Read results The bracket is to be divided into 3 surfaces. There are a number of ways to create a surface with
10. Post processing of the results straight edges.

9 10
4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry

100
75 mm

20 mm

3 4 3 4 3 4
80 mm

1 2 1 2 1 2 2 1
y 1

80 mm z
20 Create 4 points Create 4 points Create 4 points Create 2 points
Create 1 curve
x

Figure 7: Example : L Bracket

4 3

1 2

Show Labels Icon Translate

Create 4 curves Create 4 curves
Curve
1. Create the 4 points and specify these as vertices and create a surface (Figure 8a).
2. Create the 4 edges of the surface using the above 4 points. Then use the 4 edges to create the
surface. This is the most tedious way to create a surface. But this is the only way to create a
surface if all 4 of its edges are curved (Figure 8b).
3. Create opposite edges of the surface and use these to create a surface. The 2 curves are joined 1
using straight lines in creating the surface (Figure 8c).
4. Create one curve (say) between points 1 and 2 and then extruded it in the Y direction to create
the surface (Figure 8d).
Action : Create Create Create Create Create
5. Use a single step to directly create the surface (XYZ Method). Here point 1 is chosen as one end
of the diagonal and then by specifying the diagonal vector the rectangle is created (Figure 8e). Object : Surface Surface Surface Surface Surface
Method : Vertex Edges Curves Extrude XYZ
Some of these methods of creating surfaces will be illustrated later.

a e
4.1 Geometry b c d

Click on the Show labels icon from the Tool bar. This will display the point, curve numbers as


Figure 8: Different Ways of creating a surface

they are created later.

Click on the Geometry radio button.



This will open the geometry form and display it on the right hand side of the screen. Only one of
the forms indicated by the symbol can be open at any given time. Clicking on the label of the form
which is currently open closes it. If you click on the label of another form the currently selected form
is closed and the new form is opened.

11 12
4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry

surface 3.2 At this stage you could enter the co-ordinates [ 0 80 0 ] for the 3rd point and finally [ 20 80 0 ] for the
4th point co-ordinates, in order to create the first surface. However instead of that let us use a different
20 80 method to create the surface.

5 6 7

2 3 20
surface 2.1 4
2
3
8

surface 3.4 surface

Internal
1
numbering 80
surface 1.1 of curves,
surface
edges.

Y surface 1.3
1
Figure 10: Geometry Form
1 2
Z
X 4.1.2 Create Curves

Figure 9: L Bracket : The Surfaces Change the ‘Object’ to ‘Curve’. This is done by pressing the left mouse button over ‘Point’ and


choosing ‘Curve’ by moving the mouse (while holding down the left mouse button) to that menu
option and releasing the mouse button.
The Figure 9 shows the bracket divided into three surfaces. It is created using eight points and two
curves. Now check that the ‘Method’ is set to ‘Point’. The form should be as shown in Figure 11:


The geometry form is shown in Figure 10. You will also notice a column of icons with the heading
‘Pick’ displayed alongside the form. This is known as the Select Menu.
If you move the cursor from icon to icon in the select menu, text explaining each icon will pop up.
This is useful when picking entities. You choose an appropriate icon from this menu when needed.
The default icon is the first one (shown in reverse video ie highlighted). This icon means that the
Notice the cursor (indicated by I) at the box marked ‘ Starting Point List’. The bottom 2 boxes
where PATRAN expects data to be entered both deal with Points. Whichever point is selected
would be automatically placed in the first box marked ‘Starting Point List’.
Click on Point 1.


coordinates of the points are directly entered. More on this later. PATRAN now anticipates that the next selection will be the ’Ending Point’. So without clicking
on the box marked ‘Ending Point List’
4.1.1 Create Points
click on the Point 2.


The default setting of this form is for specifying directly the XYZ coordinates for the points. Notice the
2 boxes labelled ‘Point ID List’ and ‘Point Coordinates List’. The first point is to be placed at the origin. Now this label should appear in the 2nd box and without having to click on APPLY (because
AutoExcecute is SET) the 1st Curve will be created and displayed. The curve and its label will be in
Click on the Apply button to create the first point at the origin ( [0, 0, 0] ).


Yellow.
The point number is automatically incremented for the next point. The entity selection (Selecting Point 2) for the last box acts as a trigger and executes the above
Click on the ‘Point Coordinates List’ and enter the coordinates 20 0 0 and click on the APPLY command.


button. Note that the co-ordinates are enclosed by square brackets ( [ ] ). First time users might find this a little disconcerting. The ‘Auto Execute’ button can be de-activated
by clicking on it. Then you need to click on APPLY to complete the action.
If you make any mistakes click on the ‘undo’ icon next the MSC label (top right hand corner, last The next step is to create the Curve 2 by translating Curve 1.
icon). This will undo the last command. In general, you can only undo the last command.

13 14
4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry

Figure 11: Constructing lines

Choose the Action : ‘Transform’ instead of ‘Create’.



Notice that the Curve ID List is displaying 2 in readiness for the next curve.
Change the ‘Object’ to ‘Curve’ and the ‘Method’ to ‘Translate’.


The form is as shown in Figure 12 :

The curve 2 is created by translating curve 1 in the y direction by 80 mms.

This is done by changing the ’Translation Vector’ to 0 80 0 .



Here DO NOT press the RETURN key after entering the ’Translation Vector’ because the form is
not complete. Otherwise a Window will appear with an error message. If it does click on OK to
acknowledge it in order to proceed.
Pressing the RETURN key in any of the boxes where the data are typed has the same effect as
executing the current task i.e. clicking on the APPLY button.
Therefore as a rule when typing in data refrain from pressing the RETURN key even if it is the last
box or entry which would complete the data input to that form.
This might lead to the tendency of pressing the RETURN key automatically whenever typing in
data in a box even when the form is not complete.
Leave the repeat count at 1, because we only require 1 curve to be created.
Figure 12: Translate Curve
Click on the box marked ‘Curve List’ and then click on Curve 1. The Curve 2 will be displayed


without having to click on ‘APPLY’, if ‘Auto Execute’ is ON.

The next step is to create the surface using these 2 curves.
Change the ‘Action’ to ‘Create’. Change the ‘Object’ to ‘Surface’ and the ‘Method’ to ‘Curve’.


The form should be as shown in Figure 13:

15 16
4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.1 Geometry

Figure 13: Constructing a Surface from Curves

Click on Curve 1.


PATRAN now anticipates that the next selection will be the Ending Curve. So without clicking
on the box marked ‘Ending Curve 2 List’
click on the Curve 2.


Now this label should appear in the 2nd box. At this point without having to click on APPLY (because
AutoExcecute is SET) the 1st Surface will be created and displayed. The surface will be drawn in a
Green outline and its label will also be in Green.
Of course the conventional method of clicking on the boxes before making the selection still works.
Sometimes when mistakes are made use the ‘Undo’ icon and then follow the conventional method.
The next task is to create the second surface in a single step using the ‘Extrude Method’.

Leave the ‘Action’ at ‘Create’ and the ‘Object’ at ‘Surface’. Change the ‘Method’ to ‘Extrude’. The


form should be as shown in Figure 14:

Figure 14: Constructing a Surface Using the Extrude Method
Change the ‘Translation Vector’ to 0 20 0 .




Click in the box marked ‘Curve List’ and click on the ‘Curve 2’. This should create and draw the


surface in Green and display its number (Surface 2).

The next task is to create the third surface in a single step.

Leave the ‘Action’ at ‘Create’ and the ‘Object’ at ‘Surface’. Change the ‘Method’ to ‘XYZ’. The


form should be as shown in Figure 15:

17 18
4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.2 Checking and Correcting Mistakes 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.2 Checking and Correcting Mistakes

Click on APPLY.


Otherwise the first thing to check is whether there are any duplicate points and lines.

4.2.1 Check the Points

Click on ‘Create’ label in the Geometry form and change it to ‘Show’.


Also change the other 2 options so that you have Show/Point/Location for Action/Object/Info.


The ‘Total in Model’ will display the total number of points that have been created. This should
be 8.
Click on the box marked ‘Point List’ and type ‘Point 1’, and click on ’Apply’.


This will display a form with the heading ‘Show Point Location Information’. Check that the
co-ordinates are correct for this point.
Repeat this procedure for the 2nd point.


Click on ‘Cancel’ to close that form.


The next section shows how to check the curve data.

4.2.2 Check the Curves

Change the options so that you have Show/Curve/Attributes for Action/Object/Info.


This will display the total number of lines that have been created.

Figure 15: Creating surface - XYZ method Click on the box marked ‘Curve List’ and click on ‘Curve 1’.


This will display a form with the heading ‘Show Curve Attribute Information’. It will list the
Start and End Points. Check with figure 9 whether that information is correct.
Click on the second box (marked ‘Vector Coordinates List’) and then change it to 80 20 0 .



Leave the repeat count at 1, because only 1 surface is to be created. Click on the ‘Cancel’ button on this form to close it.


Click in the box marked ‘Origin Coordinates List’ and then click on ‘Point 4’. Click on the box marked ‘Curve List’ and click on the ‘Curve 2’. Check the information for this line.


By now you should be able to identify any mistakes that have been made.
This should draw the surface in Green and display its number (Surface 3 ).

At this point you should have the 8 Points and 3 surfaces on the screen. However if you had made
mistakes you will find that you have more than 8 Points and/or 3 surfaces; do not panic. The next
section explains how mistakes can be detected and corrected. If there are no mistakes then skip to
section 4.3.
4.2 Checking and Correcting Mistakes
If you think that you have made no mistakes then skip the rest of this section (goto section 4.3).
4.2.3 Deleting Points and Curves
If you need to delete any entities then do it in the reverse order these were created. For example to
delete points, curves and surfaces, delete the Surfaces first then the Curves and then finally the Points.
This is because of the dependency. Since the Surface creation is dependent on Curves and Points.
So if you try to delete such a Point then PATRAN will remind you of the dependence and ask whether
you want to delete the surface as well. To avoid these questions follow the order described.
If you need to delete any Curves then change the ‘Action’ to ‘Delete’. Change the ‘Object’ to


Sometimes the mistakes made may be too many to be able to rectify it. Then it will be quicker to ‘Curve’. Click on the box marked ‘Curve List’ and enter the line numbers you want to delete.
delete everything and make a fresh start. For this
Then click on the ‘Apply’ button.


Change the ‘Action’ to ‘Delete’ and the ‘Object’ to ‘Any’. If you need to delete any points then change the ‘Action’ to ‘Delete’. The ‘Object’ will change to



Make sure that the ‘Autoexceute’ option is UNSET (In case you want to change your mind). ‘Any’.
This is a drastic step. With a single action you are going to delete all Geometric entities (Points,
Curves, Surfaces). This warning is mainly for future reference whence dealing with a more Click on ‘Any’ and change this to ‘Point’.


complex/detailed situation. There is no going back. Here it is not that critical (if you make the Click on the box marked ‘Point List’ and enter the point numbers you want to delete.


wrong choice)
Then click on the ‘Apply’ button.


Draw a box around all the entities in the viewport.



Make the necessary corrections and re-create any points, curves and surfaces so that the labels
It should all change colour to light red. match the Figure 9. Otherwise cannot make progress with the exercise.

19 20
4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.3 Error and Warning Messages 4 CREATE GEOMETRY 4.5 Checking the Surface Normal

4.3 Error and Warning Messages

If you have made a mistake then PATRAN may put up an error message in a window. If an OK button
is displayed then click on this to acknowledge the error. You need to do this in order to continue.
If you find that PATRAN is putting up error messages when you think you have not
made any mistakes then it could be because after entering data in the boxes of a form
you pressed the RETURN key. Use the Apply or OK button at the bottom of the form
once you have completed all the entries. If there are more than one box of data to be
input, and if you press the return key at the first box after entering the data, then the
form is incomplete and this will generate an error message.
Note Therefore pressing the return key in a box is same as clicking on the Apply button.
Avoid pressing the RETURN key after entering data in any of the boxes.

4.4 Entity Labels

The label entities are all colour coded (the points Cyan, lines Yellow and surfaces (Green)).
The Show labels/Hide Labels icons in the tool bar operate on the labels/numbers collectively. To
use it selectively

Click on the pull-down menu Display and choose the option Entity Color/Label/Render....


This will bring up a form which will display the complete list of all the colour coding.
Click on ‘Hide All Entity labels’ and ‘Apply’ and this will erase all the geometry entity labels. To


restore it click on ‘Show All Entity labels’ and ‘Apply’.

Figure 16: Check Surface Normal
Click on the Cancel button to close this form.


x
This form allows one to selectively choose entity labels to be displayed. ’Label Font Size’ controls
z y
the size of the characters.
It is also possible to change the colour used for any of the entities. Just click and hold on the colour
for a selected entity and then select the colour from the palette. You need to make sure that another Front View Icon
entity does not use the same colour.
then DO NOT click on Apply.


4.5 Checking the Surface Normal
If not then you can use the Apply button to reverse it. This can be used selectively on individual


At this stage it is important to check that the created geometry will give a valid finite element mesh.
This is done by checking the direction of the normal to the surface ie the surface’s C3 parametric direc-
tion. Using the right hand rule, the C3 direction is determined by crossing the surface’s C1 direction
with the C2 direction. Here the right hand rule is used. The positive surface normal should be in the
same direction as the positive Z axis. If not the created finite elements will not be accepted by the
analysis module.
surfaces.
Note that this check only needs to be carried out for analysing 2D problems (Plane
Stress or Plane Strain). However this check is not required if using 3D solid elements
or shell elements.
First click on the box marked ‘Reset Graphics’ in this form. This will erase the


To check this change ‘Action’ from ‘Create’ to ‘Edit’. Change the ‘Object’ to ‘Surface’ and the normal vector.


‘Method’ to ‘Reverse’ (see Figure 16).

Note Repeat the above steps for surfaces 2 and 3.


Check the square button marked ‘Auto Execute’ to make sure it is unset.


As a final check draw the normal vector for all 3 surfaces. This is one of the


Click on the box marked ‘Surface List’ and click on the Surface label 1. dialogue boxes where you don’t automatically click on APPLY. This is only done


Then Click on the box marked ‘Draw Normal Vectors’. if necessary.



Now using the middle mouse button tilt the geometry (Hold down the middle mouse button Click on the ‘Front View’ icon in the toolbar. Click on the ‘Fit View’ icon if neces-




and move the mouse until you can see the direction of the normal vector clearly). The vector sary.
starts at the centre of the surface and is directed normal to it.
If the normal vector is in the same direction as the positive Z axis then the current geometry will
create a valid finite element mesh.
If the normal vector is in the same direction as the positive Z axis

21 22
5 LOADS AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS 5 LOADS AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS 5.2 Loads and Boundary Conditions

Fields Fields

Action: Show
Action: Create
Select Field To Show
Object: Spatial
triang Select this.
Type: PCL Function
Select Independent Variable

Field Name X

Click in this box and Specify Range... Click on this box.
triang
enter name triang
Independent Variable Range
Scalar Function Minimum Maximum No. of Points
100 * (100 − ‘X) / 80 Type this expression. X 20. 100. 2
OK
Independent Variables
−Apply−
‘X Click on this to enter ‘X
In the Plotted Curves Form...
‘Y in the above box.
Cancel
‘Z
Unpost Current XYWindow Click on this box.
To close the Dialogue Box
−Apply−
and the Plot Window.

Figure 17: Define Load Distribution Function Figure 18: Check Load Distribution Function

5 Loads and Boundary Conditions This should display the plot of the variation in a XYWindow and also list the values in a spread-
sheet type table for the 2 points requested. This completes the check.
5.1 Define the Load variation function
Click on ’Cancel’ in the ‘Plotted Curves’ form. Then click on the button marked ‘Unpost Current


The function which defines the triangular load distribution will have to be created first before creating XYWindow’. This should close the dialogue box and the plot window.
the load. The loading varies as a function of the X Co-ordinate so it will have to be defined as a function
of X. The next step is to create the boundary condition and the loading.

Click on the Field button which will close the Geometry form and open the Field form (see
5.2 Loads and Boundary Conditions


Figure 17).
One of the advantages of PATRAN is that one could specify the loading and boundary condition either
First of all click on the box marked ‘Field Name’ and type triang (for triangular distribution). on the ‘geometry’ or the ‘finite element model’. If specifying the loads/boundary conditions on the


The expression ( 100 - x ) gives a value of 80 at x = 20 and 0 at x = 100. To change this to 100 one
needs multiply this by 100 and divide by 80. The required expression is 100 * ( 100 - x ) / 80.
Click on the box marked ‘Scalar Function’ and then enter the expression as above but instead of

‘geometry’ it can be carried out even before the finite element mesh is generated. When this is done
the loads and boundary conditions are automatically translated to the ‘finite element model’ when it
is generated.
However in some analyses loads and boundary conditions may have to be specified directly on the

typing ‘X click on the ’X in the list marked ‘Independent Variables’. finite element mesh itself. Example : application of a point load at a node in the interior of the mesh
Then click on the Apply button. where there is no geometric point. This load can be specified once the finite element mesh has been


This completes the creation of this load function. In the history window you should see the
message : $# Field “triang” created.
It is possible to check this expression (see Figure 18).
Change the ‘Action’ from Create to ‘Show’. Click on triang from the list ‘Select Field to Show’.

generated. The choice of applying Loads/BCs either to the geometry or the finite element mesh is
controlled by a button in the ‘Select Application Region...’ form (called from Loads/BCs form).

Click on the Loads/BCs button which will close the Fields form and open the Loads/BCs form
(see Figure 19).

Using this form the displacement fixity along the left hand side vertical boundary is specified.
Click on the button ‘Specify Range’.
Leave the default option of Create/Displacement/Nodal for Action/Object/Type.
In the new dialogue box ‘Specify page’ Enter 20 for Minimum and 100 for maximum and 2 for


First of all click on the box marked ‘New Set Name’ and type fixed .


the No. of Points. Then click on OK. In the original form click on APPLY.

23 24
5 LOADS AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS 5.2 Loads and Boundary Conditions 5 LOADS AND BOUNDARY CONDITIONS 5.2 Loads and Boundary Conditions

This is the set name given to the fixity boundary condition about to be specified. Each load and
boundary conditions has to be given a set name. The user is free to choose a meaningful name
for the set.
This needs two subforms to be filled. In the first of these you specify the type of fixity. The second
subform is for selecting the region to which the boundary condition is applied. To execute the
command you need to click on the Apply button in the original form.
Load/Boundary Conditions
B Now click on the box marked ‘Input Data...’.


Action: Create This will open a new form.
A Key Click on the box under the heading ‘Translations’ and enter 2 zeroes separated by spaces between


Object: Displacement
the angled brackets ( 0 0 ).

Type: Nodal This is to indicate zero displacements in the 2 directions (x and y).
New set Name Leave the rest of the data in the default setting.
fixed Click in this box and DO NOT press
Click on the OK button. Then in the original form click on the ‘Select Application Region...’.


enter name ’fixed’. the RETURN key.
This is to specify which part of the boundary is to be fixed. Notice the Geometry which is
Select this box
Input Data ... selected.
Translations <T1,T2,T3>
Click on the box marked ‘Select Geometry Entities’. Now choose the ‘curve’ icon (3rd icon) from


< 0 0 > Click in this box and enter 2 zeroes the select menu next to the form.
separated by spaces between This selection filters the picking. In this case only lines will be selected. Surfaces and points will
Rotations <R1,R2,R3> the angled brackets. Pick be ignored when you cursor pick entities.
< >
Leave this unchanged. As you move the mouse around you will notice that the various curves getting highlighted and
OK changing colour. PATRAN is indicating what is the current selection and highlighting entities
which are likely to be selected. This should help in informing you what is the current icon
Select menu
Select Application Region... selection.
Now click on the left hand side vertical line A.


Geometry The Loads and BCs can be associated with
eithe geometry or the finite element This line should change colour to indicate that it has been selected.
FEM
model. The default pick is "Geometry". The label of the line should also appear in the box marked ‘Select Geometry Entities’. However
if this does not happen then check the ‘Select Menu’ to see that the ‘curve’ icon is chosen.
Select Geometry Entities
Click on the ‘Add’ button. The label should appear in the box marked ‘Application Region’.


Click in this box.
Now click on line B and again click on the ‘Add’ button.


Click on the "curve" icon to select it. It is the 3rd icon in the select menu.
This selection filters screen picking. In this case only the lines will be
selected, although there may be surfaces or points in the area.
Then click on line A. The label ‘surface 1.1’ should
appear in the box marked ‘select Geometry Entities’.
Click on this and the information should
Add appear the ‘Application Region’.
If you had not made any mistakes then click on the OK button to close that form.
If by mistake you had selected a different line, then use the ‘Remove’ button on that form to
remove it from the list. Click on the line which was wrongly selected. Then check the label in the
box marked ‘Select Geometry Entities’ and click on the ‘Remove’ button. This should remove it
from the ‘Application Region’ list.
In the original form click on the Apply button.


Repeat this by selecting line B (label Surface 2.1) .
OK Blue cones indicate the restraints applied to the left hand side boundary. There should be 2 sets
−Apply− of cones at each location. The numbers 1 and 2 indicate which directions are restrained. The tip and
orientation of the cone indicates which direction the edge is restrained. If the tip is pointing in the
horizontal direction then that line is restrained in the horizontal direction.
Figure 19: Load/BC Form
If the blue cones are not displayed then you must have made a mistake. Change the ‘Action’ from
‘Create’ to ‘Modify’. Check the ‘Input Data’ and ‘Application Region’. Make sure that the correct icon
was chosen from the ‘Select Menu’. You can also change the ‘Action’ to ‘Show Tabular’ to check the
input data.

25 26
6 DEFINE ELEMENT PROPERTIES 5.3 Load Application 6 DEFINE ELEMENT PROPERTIES 6.1 Define Material Properties

5.3 Load Application

Along the top, the side on the right hand is to be subjected to a vertical triangular distributed load
which varies from 100 to 0.





The load distribution function has already been specified in the previous section.
Load/Boundary Conditions C
To specify this, set the ’Action’ to ’Create’ and change the ‘Object’ to ‘Pressure’. Enter dstld (short


for distributed loading) in the box marked ‘New Set Name’.

This is the label by which the load will be identified (Figure 20). Action: Create

Click on the ‘Input Data...’ button and click on the box marked ‘Edge pressure (2-D Solids)’ and Object: Pressure Key


click on the label triang in the field box marked ‘Field’. The label f:triang should be displayed in
Type: Element Uniform
that box.
New set Name
Click on the OK button.


dstld Click in this box and DO NOT press

Then click on ‘Select Applications Region...’. Click on the box marked ‘Select Geometry Entities’. enter name ’dstld’. the RETURN key.


Choose the ‘Curve’ icon from the ‘Select Menu’ (it is the 1st icon). Then click on curve marked C Target Element Type : 2D
Change this from 3D to 2D.
in Figure 20.
Input Data ... Click on this box.
The label ‘Surface 3.2’ should appear in the box marked ‘Select Geometry Entities’.
Edge Pressure (2D−Solids)
Click on the ‘Add’ button. The label ‘Surface 3.2’ should appear in the box marked ‘Application


f: triang Click in this box and then click on

Region’. Then click on the OK button to close that form.
Spatial Fields triang in the ‘Spatial Fileds’ Box below.
In the original form click on the Apply button. This should then display ‘F : triang’.


triang
This completes the specification of the load. The load vector should be displayed in Red. The
values 100 and 0 should be displayed at either ends. If this does not happen then you must have made OK
Pick
a mistake. Change the ‘Action’ from ‘Create’ to ‘Modify’. Check that the ‘Input Data’ and ‘Application Select menu
Region’ are correct for the above load application. You can also change the ‘Action’ to ‘Show Tabular’ Select Application Region...
to check the input data. Then proceed with the exercise.
The next step is to input the material properties. Geometry The Loads and BCs can be associated with either
the geometry or the finite element model.
FEM
The default pick is "Geometry".
6 Define Element Properties
First a material called steel is created and the properties defined (E, ). Then these properties are Select Surfaces or Edges
assigned to the bracket and the thickness is also specified. These are defined in two different forms. Click in this box.

Click on the "Curve" icon to select it. It is the 1st icon in the select menu.
6.1 Define Material Properties This selection filters screen picking. In this case only the curves or edges
The bracket is made out of steel. Here it is assumed to be isotropic and linear elastic. will be selected, although there may be points or surfaces in the area.
Then click on top line in surface 3 (Line C in above). The label ‘Surface 3.2’
Click on the Materials for specifying the material properties.


should appear in the box marked ‘Select Surfaces or Edges’.

Figure 21 shows the form which is used to input the material properties for the bracket.
Click on ‘Isotropic’ and look at the other constitutive models that can be chosen. Leave it un- Add Click on this and the information should


changed for the present. appear the ‘Application Region’.

OK
Enter the Material Name Steel.


−Apply−
Select ‘Input Properties...’. Enter an Elastic Modulus of ‘2.1E5’ (in MPa), Poisson’s ratio of 0.3.


Click on the ‘OK’ in this form and then click on ‘Apply’ in the original form. This completes the Figure 20: Load Application
input of material properties.
If you need to check the material properties at a later stage, change the ‘Action’ from ‘Create’ to
‘Show’. To make any changes, change the ‘Action’ to ‘Modify’.

27 28
6 DEFINE ELEMENT PROPERTIES 6.2 Element Properties 6 DEFINE ELEMENT PROPERTIES 6.2 Element Properties

Materials

Action: Create

Object: Isotropic Leave these unchanged

Method: Manual Input Properties

Material Name Create
Action:
Steel
Input a name and select input Object : 2D Quad 4s are 2D elements
Input Properties... Properties.
Type : 2D Solid Change this to ‘2D Solid’.

Constitutive Model Elastic Leave Property Set Name

unchanged. bracket Input a name.

Elastic Modulus = 2.1E5 Option(s)

Input these. Plane Stress Change this from Plane Strain to Plane Stress.
Poisson’s Ratio = 0.3
Input Properties... Click on this.
OK
Material Name Click in this box.
−Apply−

Figure 21: Material Properties Material Property Sets

Steel Select our material in the
listbox that appears in the
6.2 Element Properties form.
Click on the Properties to assign the previously specified material properties to the geometry


[ Thickness ] 75 Input thickness.

and to specify the thickness of the bracket.
The form for carrying out this is shown in Figure 22.
OK
Change the ‘Type’ to ‘2D Solid’ instead of ‘Shell’. Type ‘bracket’ in the Property Set Name box.


Change ‘Plane Strain’ to ‘Plane Stress’ under Options. Select Members



Click in this box.

Click on the ‘Standard formulation to look at the other options. But leave it unchanged for the


present.
Select ’Surface’ from the menu of icons (this is the 1st icon).
Click on the ‘Input Properties...’ label. In the new form click on the ‘Material Name’ box and


select ‘steel’ from the Material Property Sets. This should display ‘m:steel’ in the box marked Draw a box around all 3 surfaces.
‘Material Name’. Enter a value of 75 in the thickness box. Click on the OK button.
In the original form click on the ‘Select Members’ box. Then choose the ‘surface or face’ icon Add "Surface 1:3" should appear in the


from the select menu (this is the first icon). Application Region box.
To select all three surfaces drawn a box around the whole bracket. −Apply−
This would have changed the colour of all three surfaces to red. This is an alternative way of
selecting points, curves and surfaces. Figure 22: Element Properties

The surface will change colour to orange and ‘Surface 1:3’ should appear in the box marked
‘Select Members’. If this does not happen then check that the icon selected from the ‘Select
Menu’ is the first one.
Now click on the ‘Add’ button and the list will now be displayed in the ‘Application Region’


box. Finally click on the ‘Apply’ button.

29 30
7 FINITE ELEMENT MESH 7 FINITE ELEMENT MESH 7.1 Create Mesh Seeds

Group Finite Elements

Create ...
Action: Create E C
New Group Name B 2 8
Mesh Seed 2
Click here and enter the Group Name. Object:
fem
Type: Uniform
8 Key
Make Current These are the defaults. The current group A
Display Existing Seeds
is the one which receives all new entities.
Add Entity Selection 2
Number = 2 D
−Apply− Auto Execute
Curve List
Cancel
Click in this box

Figure 23: Define a new group Click on the line D (curve 1) and then click on the
lines B and E (surface 2.1 & 2.2) respectively.

The message $# Property set “bracket” created should appear in the history window. Number = 8 Change this to 8.
When the finite element mesh is created later all the elements in the mesh would be assigned the Curve List
‘steel’ material properties.
If you need to check the properties at a later stage, change the ‘Action’ from ‘Create’ to ‘Show’. To Click in this box and then click on line A.
make any changes, change the ‘Action’ to ‘Modify’. Then click on line C.
As mentioned earlier it is possible to assign the properties either to the “geometry”
or to the “finite element mesh”. Here it has been assigned to the geometry. Figure 24: Mesh Seeds

7 Finite Element Mesh
Before generating the finite element mesh it is necessary to create a separate group. This
Note
is to keep the Geometry model separate from Finite Element Model. This makes it eas-
ier to select and display the Geometry model separately from the Finite Element Model.
Groups are like ‘named components’. Each group has its own name and contains en-
tities. If you look at the top of the viewport you will notice the name default group
displayed. That is the default name and the created geometry is part of that group. Let us leave
Leave the current setting of Action/Object/Type as Create/Mesh Seed/Uniform (Figure 24). The
choice of ‘Uniform’ for ‘Type’ means that the generated elements will be of equal width. It is possible
to generate a graded mesh by changing the ‘Type’ to ‘One Way Bias’ or ‘Two Way Bias’. However this
will not be attempted for this example.
The idea is to create a mesh with 8 noded quadrilateral elements. Here the shorter sides are as-
signed 2 and the longer sides 8 seeds respectively. Since opposite sides are meshed identically assign
to at least one of each pair.
Change the entry in ‘Number’ box to 2. Click on the ‘Curve list’.


‘geometry’ in the default group.
A new group called fem will be created for the finite element model. Now click on the lines marked B, D and E respectively (shown in the Key in Figure 24).


Click on the Group label at the top window (Figure 23). Choose the Create... option. Enter ‘fem’ The mesh seeds showing how the sides will be divided should appear in the lines.


in the box with the heading ‘New Group Name’. Change the entry in ‘Number’ box to 8.


Click on the Apply and Cancel buttons respectively. Click on the ‘Curve List’ again and click on the left hand vertical line (Surface 1.1, marked A



in Figure 24). Notice the internal numbering (surface 1 side 1). Where curves were not directly
You will notice that the group name in the viewport title bar has changed from “default group” to
created (unlike the curves 1 and 2) the internal numbering of entities will be used. Don’t be
“fem”. This is the current group (and only one group can be the current group), and it will receive
misled by the reference to ‘Surface’ when you expect ‘Curve’ to appear.
all new entities that are to be created; i.e. the finite element mesh, nodes and elements. However the
“default group” is still posted. Here posted means ‘on display’. Click on line marked C.


Yellow circles will be displayed along these lines. These are the ‘Mesh Seeds’. This shows where
7.1 Create Mesh Seeds the nodes will be created and the division of the elements.
Mesh seeds tell PATRAN how the mesh is to be generated. The mesh is to be created with 2 elements You can use the ‘Display Existing Seeds’ option in this form to check what the current seeding is
along the shorter sides and 8 elements along the longer sides. at a later time.
It is sufficient to assign mesh seeds to 2 adjacent sides of any surface. Opposite sides of a surface
Click on the Elements label which will close the Loads/BC form and open the Finite Elements are meshed identically.


form.

31 32
7 FINITE ELEMENT MESH 7.2 Create the Mesh 7 FINITE ELEMENT MESH 7.4 Equivalence and Optimize

Finite Elements Group

Post...
Action: Create
Select Groups to Post
Object: Mesh
default_group
Type: Surface
fem Click on "fem"
Global Edge Length to select it from the list
0.1 of posted groups.
Element Topology
Apply
Quad4 Note that the Loads/BCs go away too,
Quad5 because they are in the default_group
Cancel with the geometry.
Quad8 Click in this box
Isomesh Paver
Surface List
Figure 26: Select Finite Element Model for viewing
Click in this box. Then HOLD the SHIFT key
click on the Surface labels 1, 2 and 3.
Click on the Group label at the top window (Figure 26). Choose the Create... option. Enter ‘fem’


The label ‘Surface 1:3’ should appear.
−Apply− in the box with the heading ‘New Group Name’.
Click on ‘Add Entity selection and change it to ‘All F E Entities’. Note that this step is different


Figure 25: Create Mesh
from the previous instruction in creating a new group.
Click on the Apply button.
7.2 Create the Mesh


Now to post only the fem group.
Change Action/Object/method to Create/Mesh/Surface (Figure 25). Click on the ‘Quad 4’ set-


ting for ‘Topology’ and look through the available element types. For the present example choose Now change the Create... to Post.... In the new style dialogue box look at the box marked Select


Groups to Post.
the Quad8 elements. This is the 8-noded quadrilateral element.
Both default group and fem are highlighted (are displayed in reverse video) to indicate that both
Now click on the box marked ‘Surface List’ and then hold the SHIFT key and click in the interior are currently selected (Figure 26).


of the surface or on the label of the 3 Surfaces respectively. Alternately one could have drawn a
box around the 3 surfaces. Click on the ‘fem’ to select it. Now only the ‘fem’ should appear highlighted. Then click on the


The label ‘Surface 1:3’ should appear in the box marked ‘Surface List’. Apply button and then the Cancel button to close that form.

Then click on the Apply button. This should only display the finite element mesh. Click on ‘refresh graphics’ to redraw the mesh.


The mesh should now be generated and displayed. White lines indicate the element boundary. The
numbers in white are the element numbers and the ones in red are the node numbers. There should
be 36 elements and 159 nodes in the mesh.
It is sufficient to specify the mesh seed for adjacent lines of a surface. The opposite sides in a
surface are meshed identically. However if you had left both of a parallel set of sides unseeded then
the program uses the Global length parameter (which has a value of 12.8) as the size of the elements
to be generated along that side. If this is the case then click on the ‘undo’ icon and then click on the
‘refresh’ icon. This should delete the finite element mesh. Then change ‘Mesh’ for ‘Object’ to ‘Mesh
Seed’ and specify the mesh seeds for the sides correctly. Then re-create the mesh.
7.3 Unpost the Geometry
Now that the finite element model has been generated we can dispense with the geometry model ie
remove it from the view/display. If we had not created the group fem just before the f.e. mesh was
created then this would not have been possible. Then geometric entities (points, curves, surfaces)
would be in the same group (default group) as the f.e. entities (elements and nodes).
If you had forgotten to create the fem group then no harm is done. Follow the next 3 steps.
Otherwise skip these 3 steps.
7.4 Equivalence and Optimize
The next two steps are Equivalence and Optimize. If you click on the ‘Create’ label in the ‘Elements’
form it will display these options.
First of all look at the node numbers. If these are not on display switch these ON.
You will notice that the nodes along the shared sides of the surfaces have two sets of
numbers superimposed. These are duplicate nodes.
When PATRAN creates the mesh elements and nodes are created separately on each
surface. As a result there are 2 sets of Nodes along shared edges for 2D problems.
The ‘Equivalence’ command gets rid of the duplicate nodes. If the Equivalence
Warning command is not used then the created f.e. mesh will have unconnected parts ie it will
be fragmented.
If the structure consists of more than one surface use of ‘Equivalence’ is mandatory.
Otherwise you will end up with a mesh which is not connected up. Here the TOLERANCE is used
to determine the duplicate nodes. Any 2 nodes situated within a distance of the TOLERANCE are
considered to be duplicates. Hence the importance of making sure that the largest dimension on which
the tolerance is based on is specified reasonably accurately at the beginning

33 34
8 CHECK LOAD/BCS 8 CHECK LOAD/BCS 8.1 Loads/BCs

Display

Action: Equivalence Load / BC / Elem.Props ...

Show All
Object: All
Show on FEM only Press this to switch it on.
Method: Tolerance Cube Show LBC / El. Prop. Vectors Press this to switch it on.

Apply Notice that there is no visual

Nodes to be excluded
appearance change. You’re just
leave all the default changing a switch setting.
Cancel
settings unchanged.
Figure 28: Switch Display On

Equivalencing Tolerance Loads/BCs

0.05
Action : Plot Markers

−Apply− Click on this. Assigned Loads/BC Sets

Displ_fixed Click on the names of the sets we
Press_dstld just created to select them. Hold down
Figure 27: Equivalence the Nodes the shift key when selecting the 2nd item.
The 5 letter prefixes remind you
Click on Create and change it to Equivalence. See Figure 27. of the set type.


Select Groups
Then click on the Apply . Click on the name of the group


fem
containing our elements.
Notice the Magenta circles which indicate where PATRAN found and deleted the duplicate nodes. In
the message window there should be a message saying that 10 duplicate nodes were deleted.
Notice the node numbers along shared sides. There should now be a unique set to node numbers −Apply− Verify that the displacement
clearly readable. markers are at the nodal points.
The next step is to ‘Optimize’ the mesh. These would make the solution efficient. With large
number of nodes/elements optimising is recommended. Figure 29: Plot Markers
Click on Equivalence and change it to Optimize.


Change the ‘Method’ to ‘Both’. Click on the ‘Apply’ button. Make sure that the button marked ‘Show on FEM only’ is ON; i.e. in the pressed down position.




A table will be displayed with the details of optimisation. Click on the ‘Apply’ and ‘Cancel’ buttons respectively.


Click on the ‘OK’ button in that form. There will not be any visible change at this point.


Choose Loads/BCs. Choose the ‘Action’ Plot Markers (Figure 29). Click on the name of the


8 Check Load/BCs and Create a Load Case set Displ fixed to select it, from the box marked ‘Assigned Load/BC Sets’. Then hold down the
shift key and click on the name of the set Press dstld to select it as well. From the ‘Select Groups’
The next step is to create a load case which combines the selected load and boundary conditions into select ‘fem’. Then click on the ‘Apply’ button.
a single set. But first, we will demonstrate displaying the Loads/BCs on the FEM model. This will display the displacement markers at the nodes and the load vectors for each element
This is done in two steps. The first is to set the display mode. The second is to replot the markers side. If either or both of the markers are missing then check that you have selected both sets
from Loads/BCs to cause them to be evaluated on the FEM model. (fixed, dstld).
Now that the displacement fixities and loads have been verified for the f.e.mesh the display can
8.1 Loads/BCs be turned off as follows (Figure 30) :
Figure 28 shows how to switch the display on. Click on ‘Display’ and choose ‘Load/BC/Elem Props...’. In the new form click on the button


Click on ‘Display’ and choose ‘Load/BC/Elem. Props...’. In the new form click on the button marked ‘Hide All’ below the box marked Loads/BCs. Also unset the toggle ‘Show on FEM


marked ‘Show All’ below the box marked Loads/BCs. Only’. Click on the ‘Apply’ and ‘Cancel’ buttons respectively.

35 36
9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 8.2 Create a Load Case 9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.1 Submit a ABAQUS Analysis

Display Load Cases

Load / BC / Elem. Props ...
Load Case Name
Hide All Let’s remove the markers dist_load Click on this box and
from the display. enter name.
Show on FEM only Press this to switch it OFF. Assign/Prioritize Loads/BCs Click on this box.
Select Individual Loads/BCs
Apply Displ_fixed Click on the names of the sets we just
Press_dstld created to select them. Then these
Cancel After clicking on this click on the should appear in the spreadsheet below.
Reset graphics icon to clear the markers. Assigned Loads/BCs
Type Scale factor Priority

Figure 30: Switch Display Off fixed Displacement 1. Add

dstld Pressure 1. Add

You can use the ‘refresh’ icon to re-draw the mesh, in case part of the mesh got erased due to the
last command. The next step is to create a load case with the loading and boundary conditions. Remove Selected Rows Remove All Rows Use these if you make
any mistakes.
OK
8.2 Create a Load Case
A load case combines user selected load and boundary conditions. Next step is to create a load case to −Apply−
combine the boundary condition, ‘fixed’ and the loading ‘dstld’.
Figure 31: Create a Load case
Choose the Load cases. In the box marked ‘Load Case Name’ enter ‘dist load’. Then click


on the Assign/Prioritize Loads/BCs. This will bring up a new form (Figure 31). From ‘Select
Individual Loads/BCs’ select Disp fixed and Press dstld. Click on the ‘Linear Static’ and this will display other type of analyses that can be carried out.


For the present leave this as ‘Linear Static’.
If any one of the items makes more than one appearance (by accidentally clicking more than


once) then ensure that the scale factor is 1. Click on the box marked ‘Select Load Cases...’ and in the new form select the ‘dist load’ from the


available load cases. Then click on the ‘OK’ button to close that form.
If more than one appearance is made then
select the row (by clicking on any cell in that row) and then click on button marked Remove All Click on the label ‘Output Requests...’ and check the default options for future reference. Change




the ‘None’ for ‘Stress Invariants’ to ‘Integ Point’. Then click on the ‘OK’ button to effect the
Rows and repeat the step.
changes made.
Click on the ‘OK’ button and then click on the ‘Apply’ button in the original form.


Click on the ‘Apply’ and ‘Cancel’ buttons respectively in the ‘Step Create’ form. This will close


This completes the data input. The message Load Case “dist load” created should appear in the that form.
history window. Click on the ‘Step Selection...’ button in the original form. Click on the ‘static loading’ in the


‘Existing Job Steps’ box and this will appear in the box marked ‘Selected Job Steps’. Then click
on ‘Apply’.
9 Perform the Analysis
Now all the data input is complete.
9.1 Submit a ABAQUS Analysis Finally click on the ‘Apply’ button to submit a ABAQUS job.


We’re ready to analyze the problem we’ve entered in PATRAN.
PATRAN creates the input data file called bracket.inp (for this example) and submits a ABAQUS
Click on the Analysis label. job. The abaqus job is run external to the patran session. The following messages should appear in the


history window :
Figure 32 shows the form.
Click on ‘Step Creation...’ and in the new form enter in the box marked ‘Job Step Name’ : 1. Executing /export/../patran2004r2/bin/pat3aba.


static loading. 2. translator messages may be found in the file ./bracket.msg.01.

Notice the default option of Linear Static for the ‘Solution Type’.
3. Executing /export/../patran2004r2/bin/AbaqusExecute.
In the box marked ‘Job Step Description’ enter ‘Static analysis with pressure loading’.


37 38
9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.1 Submit a ABAQUS Analysis 9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.2 Accessing the ABAQUS Results from PATRAN

First the viewport will be closed and the Message Generating Input for ABAQUS would appear
Analysis in a separate window which would be closed subsequently. At this point he ABAQUS job starts to run
(in the background). The viewport should be back on display.
Action: Analyze Now move the viewport aside and look in the xterm window from which patran was started. Look
Leave these unchanged for the message : Sending output to nohup.out in that window. In the absence of any other message
Object: Entire Model this would in general mean that the analysis was successful. However in case of errors the following
message may appear in the same window.Error detected ... Aborting AbaqusExecute. In case of
errors you must find the errors and correct them. First look in the file called nohup.out. It might
Method: Full Run
suggest looking at either bracket.msg or bracket.dat file.
Notice the difference between the files bracket.msg.n and bracket.msg. The bracket.msg file is
Step Creation... created by ABAQUS and is a report of the analysis whereas bracket.msg.n is a report from PATRAN
in creating the ABAQUS input file (whether creation of each keyword was successful or not).
Job Step Name The following steps are involved. First the ABAQUS input file is written to. The report of this
action is written to a file bracket.msg.01 when it is the first time. If the file(s) bracket.msg.n already
static_loading Click in this box and enter name exists then a new file with the last 2 digits incremented by 1 will be created. Look for the file with the
largest extension number. The next step in the absence of any errors in the input creation step is to run
Solution Type the ABAQUS analysis.
Then wait for the abaqus job to finish. Type top in the second X-term window and wait till ‘pre.x’
Linear Static Click on this for other
and ‘standard.x’ disappear from the displayed list. Because this is such a small example you will have
type of analysis. to be quick to see this. Type q to quit from top.
Select Load Cases... The files bracket.dat and bracket.fil would have then been created. If either or both these files are
missing then there could be an error in the data input. Check the file bracket.msg.01 for error messages.
Available Load Cases Check also the bracket.inp file.
If both these files (*.dat and *.odb) are successfully created then resume the PATRAN session as
dst_load Click on this name to select it.
described in the next section.
This list summarises the general suggestions on what to do after the analysis is complete.
OK Use one of the other xterm. Make sure that the current directory is patran.
more nohup.out Read the ABAQUS log file.


Output Requests...
more bracket.inp View contents of ABAQUS input file.


Output Variables Option
If we don’t turn these to
more bracket.msg View message file.


Stress Invariants Integ Point Integ Point the results
plot will be unexciting. emacs bracket.dat View ABAQUS output file using emacs.


OK The default is None.
Use File / Exit Emacs to quit from Emacs.


Apply
rm nohup.out Remove this file. It will be recreated.


Cancel
9.2 Accessing the ABAQUS Results from PATRAN
Step Selection ... The ABAQUS printed results will be written to bracket.dat (ascii). The output database is called
bracket.odb (binary). In order to access the results from PATRAN you need to attach the ‘*.odb’ file to
Existing Job Steps PATRAN.
Default Static Step
Click on the Analysis form to re-open it.


static_loading Click on this to add it to the
Selected Job Steps. Change the ‘Action’ from ‘Analyze’ to ‘Read Results’.


Selected Job Steps
The form is shown in Figure 33.
static_loading 

Click on the label ‘Select Results File...’.

This will bring a new form up. Check under the heading ‘Available Files’. If ‘bracket.odb’ does
Apply not appear in the list then the ABAQUS job has not run so far or there may have been some
errors.
Apply
Wait for a while and click on the ‘filter’ button to update the list of available files.


Figure 32: Run an ABAQUS Analysis

39 40
9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.2 Accessing the ABAQUS Results from PATRAN 9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.3 Post Processing

Analysis $# Attaching Direct Results Access file:

$# "/amd_tmp/needle-16/usersn/.../patran/bracket.odb"
$# *** Begin: Attach MSC.Patran Access Result File ***
Action : Read Results $# Processing result load case: Step-1
$# Processing result sub-case: Frame 0, Time 0
Object : Results Entities $# Processing result sub-case: Frame 1, Time 2.22e-16
$# Total execution time in real seconds: 0.000
Attach $# Total execution time in CPU seconds: 0.140
Method :
$# *** End: Attach MSC.Patran Access Result File ***
Select Results File...

Available Files In case of any problems with post-processing look at the ‘bracket.msg.nn’ file in a separate X-term
bracket.odb Select this file window. Here nn is a 2 digit number which is incremented by 1 every time a new ‘msg’ file is created.
Look for the latest file.

$# Error reported from application Results

OK $# Direct Results Access file is already attached. To re-attach with
Apply $# different Translation Parameters, please detach the file using the
$# Analysis form option Delete "Attachment" then re-attach. File:
$# "/amd_tmp/needle-16/usersn/.../patran/lp2.odb"
Figure 33: Attach to the ABAQUS Output Database
$? NO 4012005
$# Question from application Results
It is good practice to check the contents of the file ‘nohup.out’ to see whether the run was suc- $# Detach from Direct Results Access file:


cessful. $# "/amd_tmp/needle-16/usersn/.../patran/lp2.odb". This operation

$# cannot be undone. Do you want to continue?
Check the date and time because the contents of the file ‘nohup.out’ are cumulative and the $? YES 4012012
outcome of the current run is appended to the existing file. Also it is a good idea at this point to $# Detach external results file:
delete the file ‘nohup.out’ as it will be re-created. $# /amd_tmp/needle-16/usersn/.../patran/lp2.odb
Type rm nohup.out. nohup.out :? (y/n). Type y to confirm deletion.
This above listing is purely for illustrative purposes. It shows a different analysis where errors


Now proceed with the post processing. were encountered. In case of similar errors you need to find the source of the errors. Then after
making corrections if you want to re-run ABAQUS using the same job name then you need to delete
If the file ‘bracket.odb’ is present then select it by clicking on it.
the Result attachment of the ‘*.odb’ file to PATRAN first.


This file name should then be displayed in the box marked ‘Selected Results File’. In the Analysis form,
If the file ‘bracket.odb’ is not present then either the job was not run or there may have been errors
Change the ‘Action’ to ‘Delete’ and the ‘Object’ to ‘Result Attachment’.


in the input data. Use the second window to see whether the file ‘bracket.dat’ and ‘bracket.msg’
are present. If present then look through these files for a possible explanation. You need to take Select the ‘bracket.odb’ and then click on ‘Apply’.


remedial action before you can carry on with the exercise.
Now the bracket.odb file is detached. Run the ABAQUS analysis again and then re-attach the
If there are no errors then
results file. Then proceed to the next section.
Click on the OK button. Click on the ‘Apply’ button in the original form.


9.3 Post Processing

There will be messages of progress in the history window. The heartbeat will turn Red and then
to Blue as the results are set up for direct access from the database. Wait till it turns Green again. The Choose the Results option.


viewport may be cleared and the mesh may be redrawn meanwhile. Figure 34 shows the form.
The following message should appear in the history window :
Change the ‘Object’ from Quick Plot to Deformation. ‘Step-1,A1...’ should be highlighted in


‘Select Result Cases’. If not select the 2nd line (set).
$# Attaching Direct Results Access file:
In the ‘Select Deformation Result’ listbox select ‘Deformations, Displacement’. The ‘Show As’


$# "/amd_tmp/needle-16/usersn/.../patran/bracket.odb"
$# Creating Group "PART-1-1". should be set to ‘Resultant’. Click on the ‘Apply’ label.
$# Creating Group "FEM". You should see the deformed mesh plotted in white on the viewport. The blue lines represent the
$# Creating Group "FIXED". undeformed mesh. Notice the value of 1.82 displayed next to the node where the load is applied. This
$# Creating Group "BRACKET". is the largest displacement.

41 42
9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.3 Post Processing 9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.4 Changing Display Parameters

9.4 Changing Display Parameters

To change the scaling used for the displacement

Click on the ‘Display Attributes’ icon. Turn the ‘Show Maximum Label’ off (Figure 35).


You will notice the value 0.1 in the box marked ‘Scale Factor’ and the radio button ‘Model Scale’
is selected. This means that the largest displacement in the mesh is scaled to be 10% of the
Results maximum model size.
To look at the displacements at true scale
Action : Create
Click on True Scale to set it and enter a factor of 1 and then click on ‘Apply’.


Click on ‘Quick Plot’ and change it to
Object : Deformation
‘Deformation’. The displacements are very small.
Select Result Cases Enter a scale factor of 10. (Because the maximum displacement is 1.82). Click on True Scale to


Step 1,... Frame 0 set it. Now the displacements are directly multiplied by 10. Turn off ‘Show Undeformed’.
Step 1, ... Frame 1 Click on the result case name. Click on ‘Apply’ on the Results form to redraw the deformed mesh.


Now click on the Reset button in this form to restore the original setting.


Select Deformation Result

Deformation, Displacement Select Displacements.

Display
Click on this.
Attributes
Show As : Resultant Leave unchanged
True Scale
Apply Enter a scale factor of 10 and turn
Scale Factor 10.
this on. Displayed deformations
will be scaled accordingly
Figure 34: Results Form Show Undeformed

Show Maximum Label Turn this off. Only the deformed

model will be displayed.
Apply
Turn this off.

Figure 35: Change Display Properties

9.5 Hard Copy of Plot

To get a hard copy of the generated plot

Click on ‘File’ and select ‘Print...’.


Make sure that ‘DPO Postscript Printer’ is highlighted in the ‘Available Printers’ box. This allows
Select Results for a postscript file to be created.
If you want to send the plot directly to the printer then
Target Entities Plot Options Click on Apply.


Display Attributes
Alternatively if you want to save the plot in a file then
Icons in the Results Form Click on ‘Page Setup...’. This allows for the change of paper size, margins and page orientation.

For the present do not change any of the default settings. Click on ‘Cancel’ to close that form.
Click on ‘Options...’. This gives a choice of black and white or colour output to be created. Click


on ‘Print to File’. This selects the option to create a file. Make sure ‘bracket.ps’ is displayed in
the box marked ‘Filename’. However if you require to use the output in a latex document then
click on ‘Create EPS File’. This chooses the encapsulated postscript file option. Click on the OK
button.

43 44
9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.6 Stress Fringe Plot 9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.7 Using Graph (XY) Plot to plot Stress variation

Click on the ‘Apply’ button in the original form. This creates the postscript/eps file. When the


plotting is complete the following message will be printed in the history window.
MSC.Patran 2003 r2 15-Oct-03 17:40:55 1.79+03
Fringe:Step-1, A1:Frame 1, Time 2.22e-16, Stress components, S - von Mises, Layer 1
1.67+03
Deform:Step-1, A1:Frame 1, Time 2.22e-16, Spatial displacement, U, Layer 1
Postscript file [bracket.ps.01] or [bracket.eps.01] complete. 1.55+03

The choice of whether the plot is to be sent directly to the printer or written a file is controlled by 1.43+03

by the settings in the ‘Options...’ form. 1.31+03

If one of the buttons is chosen then the plot is written to a file in postscript or eps format depend- 1.79+03 1.19+03

ing on which is selected. 1.07+03

To send the plot directly to the printer unset both options. 9.54+02

8.34+02
Click on the Cancel button of the ‘Print’ form to close it.


7.15+02

The file ‘bracket.ps.01’ or ‘bracket.eps.01’ would have been created. Figure 36 shows the gener- 5.96+02

ated plot. Every time a new postscript file is created the number represented by the last 2 digits will 4.77+02

automatically get incremented. 3.58+02

2.39+02

1.19+02
MSC.Patran 2003 r2 15-Oct-03 17:40:29 Y
3.33-01
Deform:Step-1, A1:Frame 1, Time 2.22e-16, Spatial displacement, U, Layer 1 default_Fringe :
Z X Max 1.79+03 @Nd 81
3.33-01 Min 3.33-01 @Nd 8
default_Deformation :
Max 1.82+00 @Nd 147
1.82+00

Figure 37: von Mises Stress Fringe Plot

Click on ‘Display Attributes’ icon.


Change ‘Display’ from ‘Free Edges’ to ‘Element Edges’ and then click on the ‘Apply’ button.


To get a hard copy of the plot
Click on the ‘File’ label in the pull-down menu and choose the ‘Print...’ option.


Click on the ‘Apply’ button.


This will create a postscript file.
Y

Z X
However if you require a colour plot then
default_Deformation :
Max 1.82+00 @Nd 147
Click on the ‘Options...’ button.


Figure 36: Deformed Mesh Click on the ‘Black to White’ button and change the option to ‘Color’. Click on the ‘OK’ button.


Then click on the ‘Apply’ button in the original form.
This will create a colour postscript file.
9.6 Stress Fringe Plot Click on the ‘Cancel’ button to close the Print form.


The next step is to produce a fringe plot of Mises stress (see Figure 37). This is derived from the general
stresses. The Results menu is already selected and up. 9.7 Using Graph (XY) Plot to plot Stress variation
Change the ‘Object’ from Deformation to Fringe. The Graph (XY) Plot option can be used to produce plots of results against distance. For example to


plot the variation of the horizontal stress (Sigma-xx) along the fixed edge. Graph (XY) Plot has more
Choose the ‘Stress, Components, S’ from the ‘Select Fringe Result’ table.


options to produce plots.

This will automatically select ‘von Mises’ for ‘Quantity’ which is the default choice.

Click on ‘Fringe’ and change it to ‘Graph’ for the ‘Object’ option.
Click on the Apply button.


Method should display ‘Y vs X’. Y should be set to ‘Result’.

This should display the fringes on the deformed mesh plot. This is shown in Figure 37. If you
require a fringe plot on the undeformed mesh plot then In the List box marked ‘Select Y Result’ select ‘Stress, Components’.


click on the reset graphics icon to clear the previous plot and then click on the ‘Apply’ button to Change ‘Quantity’ to display ‘X Component’.


redraw the fringe plot.

45 46
9 PERFORM THE ANALYSIS 9.8 To Quit from PATRAN
For X change ‘Coordinate’ to ‘Path Length’. Click on the ‘target entities’ icon (2nd icon) in the

Results form. In the new form the ‘Target Entity’ should be set to ‘Path’. For ‘Additional Display
Control’ change the ‘Points’ to ‘Curves’. Increase the ‘Points for Segments’ from 3 to 10.
Click on the box marked ‘Select Path Curves’ and enter surface 1.1.

Click on the ‘Display Attributes’ icon. In the new form set ‘Append Curve in XYWindow’

To save the plots that are created
click on the ‘Plot Options’ icon and enter a title (Stress Sigma-xx along fixed edge) in the box

marked ‘Save Graph Plot As’.
Then click on the ‘Apply’ button.

The key here is to use the four icons displayed to set all the required settings. Only then should
the ‘Apply’ button at the bottom of the form be pressed.
You can use the options available in this form to change the appearance of the plot (to change
the line style).
Further options are available under XY Plot to change the appearance of the plot (to add titles
to the axes, change grid marks, to change the plot types). Choose ‘Action : Modify’ and ‘Object :
Axis’, for example).
To get a hard copy of this
Click on File in the top menu and choose ‘Print...’.

In the form that appears change the category from ‘Current Viewport’ to ‘Current XY Window’.

Check that the ‘Available printers’ is ‘DPO Postscript Printer’. Click on the ‘Apply’ button. If
you have chosen the postscript option throughout the file will have the name bracket.ps.03. In
the command window the following message will appear
Postscript file [bracket.ps.03] complete.
Plots of other variables along the same path can be created in the same XY Window. If you
require a different type of plot then create a new XY Window with a title ‘Results Graph2’ (in the
box marked ‘XY Window Name’ in the form selected using the ‘Display Attributes’ icon).
To get rid of the previous XY Window
Click on XY Plot. Choose the ‘Action : Post’ and ‘Object : XY Window’. In the box marked

‘Post/Unpost XYWindows’ click on ‘Results Graph’ by holding down the Control key and click-
ing the left mouse button. This should unselect that window. The Results Graph should now
disappear.
9.8 To Quit from PATRAN
Click on ‘File’ and choose ‘Quit’ from the menu option.

Since the contents of the PATRAN database is always up to date (when the heartbeat is Green)
the quit option closes the database and exits from PATRAN.
You can restart from here any time you wish.
This completes the exercise. By now you should have some idea of what is involved in setting up
a ABAQUS analysis, running it and post processing the results.
More examples can be found in the on-line document help page. Click on ‘Example problems’.
However these examples are for different analysis programs. Hence if you are using ABAQUS expect
some differences.
47
11 TROUBLESHOOTING
10 Files
After using the PATRAN program you will notice that the following files have been created:
1. bracket.db (database), bracket.db.jou (journal file) [Retain]
2. patran.ses.01 (session file(s)) [Retain]
3. bracket.msg.01, bracket.msg.02 (message files) [Delete]
4. bracket.ps.01, bracket.ps.02, bracket.ps.03 (postscript files) [Delete after printing]
5. bracket.inp, bracket.dat, bracket.odb, bracket.msg, bracket.sta (ABAQUS files) [Delete]
If you have taken more than one session of PATRAN to complete this exercise, there will be more
than 1 session file.
Do not delete the bracket.db.jou, patran.ses.01 files. The first is a journal file which contains all the
commands you have used in completing this exercise.
This file can be used to recreate the database (bracket.db). Therefore this file is useful if you happen
to delete the database file or if it gets corrupted.
If this happens run PATRAN and click on File and choose Utilities / Rebuild... In the new form,
select ‘bracket.db.jou’ from the list of files and click on the OK button. This will rebuild the database,
but this is a slow process and will take time.
The session files can be used to playback the whole exercise and can be useful in demonstrations.
Choose the Session / Play... under the ‘File’ command and then use the patran.ses.01 file to play back
the exercise.
lp -dljmr1 -opostscript file-name
Example : lp -dljmr1 -opostscript bracket.ps.01
The postscript files should be deleted to save disk space after these have been printed.
The ABAQUS files can also be deleted if you had used the ABAQUS option.
11 Troubleshooting
1. If the heartbeat pulsates Red continuously then first click the Middle mouse button in the view-
port area. If the hearbeat turns Green then proceed. If not check the CPU usage of your PATRAN
session by typing top in a separate x-term window (on the same server). Check the process p3 for
your user-ID. If this is more tha 90 % then it has become a runaway process. Wait ofr a few min-
utes to make sure that it is not busy with computation. Check the files created during the current
session and check the time these files have been updated. If the files for the current analysis are
not getting updated this probbaly confirms that it is a runaway process.
Note the process-ID for your p3 session. Then kill it by typing
kill -9 process-ID


Type q to quit from top. Quit from the current window manager and then type dtwm&. This
will run a different window manager which will allow you to access the PATRAN database and
to continue.
2. You are typing data into a box and it is not displayed in the box. Make sure you have clicked on
the box first to indicate that you wish to input data into that particular box.
3. PATRAN has put up an error message and when you click on the ‘OK’ button to acknowledge
it nothing happens. All the windows are ‘frozen’. Move the PATRAN windows aside to reveal
the window from which you invoked PATRAN; i.e. typed patran. On this window press the
CTRL/C keys; i.e. press the C key while holding down the CTRL key. This in general should
allow you to continue with the PATRAN session.
48
12 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

4. You are trying to delete some data in one of the boxes using the Delete char key and it does not
work. This could be due to some key mapping problems. Try the alternative of highlighting Appendix A : Brief Notation Review
the entire entry in that field/box and then use the ‘Backspace’ key to delete the current entry.
Then re-type the required entry. If this does not work then choose ‘File...’ and choose ‘Quit’ to
Here is a short summary of the notation.
quit from PATRAN. Then logout and login again. Sometimes this will solve the problem. If it
does not then report it to the computer operators and give them the terminal number (example : Forms and Menus These terms are used interchangeably to describe
tw603).
the rectangular boxes containing widgets. Each form
5. You are trying to select an entity “Curve/Line, surface” or “Element, node” by either clicking on has a name at the top.
the entity or drawing a box around it. But Patran does not recognise it and beeps. Usually when
Patran recognises the selection it will change the colour of the selected item and also display the
label of the selected entity. Solution Parameters... Three periods following a name means if you choose
If this does not happen then this it will bring up another form.

(a) Check that the icon chosen (shown highlighted) in the ‘select menu’ is the correct one. Apply Same as ‘‘Do it’’. Initiates performance of all form
(b) Check that the group currently posted in the viewport is the correct one. ‘default group’ related actions. When it appears as ‘‘-Apply-’’ the
will contain the geometric entities. ‘fem’ (for this example) will contain the f.e. entities.
actions can be undone (Use Top Menu eraser icon).
For example if f.e. mesh is currently posted in the viewport and in ‘select menu’ you had
chosen a geometric entity (example ‘Curve’) then this can happen. Post the ‘default group’
to select the curve. Alternatively post the ‘fem’ to select element or node. Cancel Closes the form without taking any action, i.e.
(c) Check the form to see which radio button is selected : Geometry or finite element. ‘‘cancel this order’’.

6. Instruction says to click on either OK or Apply in a form but one cannot see either of these. OK Same as Apply, but form closes (goes away) automatically.
This may be due the default size of the form being short. Lengthen the form window.
7. Region of the viewport overlain by forms does not get automatically refreshed when the forms
Label Buttons with little rectangle present a list of selections
are closed and having to keep clicking on the “Graphics Refresh” icon.
when pressed (called ‘‘popup’’ selections).
Look for a file called settings.pcl in your $HOME directory. Open it using a editor program
(emacs) and then look for a line
pref env set string( ”graphics refresh”, ”NO” ) Reset In general, sets all form inputs back to their values at
Replace the NO with YES and save the file. Save and quit from the PATRAN session. Restart the last time Apply was selected.
and re-access the PATRAN database. This should fix the problem.
Auto Execute
Really means Auto Apply. When ‘‘on’’, an Apply
12 Frequently Asked Questions is automatically performed each time a selection is made
in the box immediately beneath.
See the web page under Help / Engineering Packages / finite elements / PATRAN for answers to
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about PA TRAN.
Choice 1 Little square buttons are used for selecting choices.
Choice 2 Any number, from none at all, can be selected by
Choice 3 clicking on squares.

Choice 1 Diamond buttons, however, are choice toggles.

Choice 2 Only one can be selected. Clicking on another deselects
Choice 3 the previous slelection.

Rules for Creating Names

Length : 1 to 31 characters
Permitted Characters : A to Z, a to z, 0 to 9, underscore, hyphen, period.
Not Allowed : Spaces, parenthesis, brackets, commas, +, !, ?, =, etc.

49
 move it up or down as required.
MSC

button on these markers and

These markers can be used

Hold down the left mouse

of the Tool Bar region and
to change the relative size
This is a Listbox. It has a title at the top and a list of contents.
Descriptive Title

the History Window.

To select an item, use the left mouse button and highlight the item.
Thing_1 To deselect an item or individually select additional items,

Heart
Thing_2

beat
hold down the control key and use the left mouse button.
Thing_3 To highlight a block of items, select the top item with the

XY Plot
left mouse button , then hold the shift key down and use the
left mouse button to select the last item.

System icons

Insight

























The left mouse button is used for Use the right mouse button and
making selections. To make hold down the shift key to

Results
multiple selections, hold down the deselect any item selected in

Help
Shift key while making them. error.
MOUSE

Analysis

Radio Buttons
Application
Cursor Selecting Entities

Fields
A

Utilities
With the cursor at point ‘‘A’’, hold down the

History Window
Tool Bar Region

Command Line
left mouse and drag the cursor to point ‘‘B’’

Load Cases
Rectangle
creating a selection box encompassing the entities.

Insight Control
Picking
Release the mouse button to initiate the selection
process. Selected entities turn orange.

Interrupts a command in progress. This is useful when you want

Undoes the last executed action of a PATRAN form when an

‘‘−Apply−’’ was pressed. (Note the dashes around Apply).
Properties

Removes all fringe and marker plots, all automatic titles,

Redisplays (refreshes ) all of the graphics Viewports.

Brings the viewport to the ‘‘front’’ of the main form.

B

Tools
MSC.Patran 2004 r2

highlighting and deformed shape plots. Repaints the

A E
B

to abort out of an executing PATRAN form.

Preferences

Reset Graphics / Display Cleanup

Hold down the Control Key (ctrl) and click the

Materials
Polygonal left mouse button at A, B, C, D and E. Choose

Default Window Layering

C Picking points that surrond the entities to be selected.

when the picture gets disturbed.

Display

model in wireframe mode.

You can hold down the Shift Key and select

Load/BCs
entities individually in sequence.

Viewing

Interrupt
D

Refresh
Pull−Down Menus

Undo
Elements
Help

Viewport
There are two ways to access on-line help. If you need help while filling out a
form, place your cursor on the form and press the F1 key on the keyboard.

This accesses the user manual and brings up a copy of the form with more



























Group

information. The second method of accessing help is to select help at the top

Geometry
right hand side of the Main Window. File